Offa (guard)

Offa was a West Saxon mercenary who served as the captain of Aethelwold Aetheling's guards during the 890s. In 892, Aethelwold found Offa throwing an axe at a post, and he asked if he was also good with a sword. Athelwold then decided to hire him to form his own guard, asking Offa to bring along two of his men to assist him. They went to Aylesbury to drink and see Lord Aethelred of Mercia, and Aethelwold asked for Aethelred's disloyalty to Alfred and an alliance between Aethelred and him. Offa then accompanied Aethelwold to meet with Hastein and Bloodhair in Kent, bringing them word that Uhtred was no longer in Alfred's service, and that Skade was Uhtred's lover. Aethelwold then convince dthem to unite and form a great Danish army to finish off a weakened Wessex with help from Ragnar Ragnarsson and Uhtred of Bebbanburg.